By Josh Gold
So you want to stand out, aye?
When most people think about making a capital-v Video for their organization, they probably picture some sort of industry standard, a film in a neutral style that tells people who you are and what you do. These films are everywhere, from websites to social media to live presentations or meetings. After all, every organization needs to tell people what it’s all about.
While it may not be unique to create this kind of film, that doesn’t mean that your particular film can’t be unique. We promise, it’s entirely possible to produce something distinctive without losing out on benefits such as informativeness and versatility.
Your message is one-of-a-kind - make sure viewers can tell
Introducing yourself to the world is about more than listing your … [Read more...]

By Josh Gold
We’ve spoken about this in the past.
There is no one perfect video for all occasions.
What are you planning to use your video for? Who is your intended audience? When and where will they be viewing the video? The most effective message, format and style all change according to the context.
But not everyone has unlimited funds to spend crafting the ideal, multi-tiered campaign that will, with the combined power of big and small videos at every stage, funnel prospects from awareness to commitment. There has to be a cost-effective, constructive and sensible way to get started. Right?
Right.
In today’s post, we make the case for choosing the Identity Film, which lays out the general ethos of your organization using a mix of on-camera interviews and supporting … [Read more...]

By Josh Gold
In parts one, two, and three of this series, we discussed how to capitalize on the potential of your fundraising events, from the invitation process to the evening itself.
So, you did it. You put together the perfect evening, ramped up excitement amongst your supporters, and translated that into a hugely successful fundraising drive. But you’re not quite done yet.
In the days following your event, there’s a bit of a honeymoon period. People are still caught up in the aftermath, still feeling especially well-disposed towards your organization. It’s a delicate line to walk, after the outpouring of generosity you’ve already seen, but if you handle it right, you can continue to increase your donation total even once the night is over.
1. Keep it light
Keep up contact with … [Read more...]

By Josh Gold
In part 1 of this series, we introduced the question: How can we maximize the success of fundraising events? In part 2, we explored how some extra effort in the invitation process can lead to increased donations.
A fundraising event is more than just a good party. It’s a planned interaction between you and your supporters - one with a very specific goal in mind. While everyone in attendance has already made some kind of contribution, that was before they spent any time right there in the room with you. That was before you had a chance to remind them properly how much they care about your work.
You’ve created an opportunity, an environment that allows you to renew your relationship with your allies and advocates. As you choreograph the evening, every choice you make will either … [Read more...]

By Josh Gold
In part 1 of this series, we explain why, despite their longstanding popularity, we believe that annual fundraising events are seeing results far below their true potential. We encourage you to read that post in full if you want to understand this issue properly.
Now we’re ready to move on to practical advice.
What can you do to give your dinner or gala that missing edge? In this post, we cover actions you can take in the period leading up to the event.
Let’s back up for a minute. Remember, the current format invites guests to contribute to your organization when they sign up to attend. The sign-up process, however, isn’t exactly thrilling - that’s a word reserved for the dinner itself. And yet, sign-up time is when almost all donations are made and ads bought, not to … [Read more...]

By Josh Gold
Sometimes looking at your industry as an “outsider” can produce interesting results.
Back in 2009 when I was hired to create my first gala film, I was amazed by the grandeur of the fundraising events my clients hosted: everyone dressed in their finest - a real black tie event - with valet parking, a food selection that put wedding menus to shame, honorees and VIPs, and of course the featured videos.
The conventional wisdom, I soon learned, was that these high-profile affairs kept the spark alive between your organization and its supporters. They were both a celebration of the successes you had achieved together and a way of saying: “Thank you. We appreciate you, and we couldn’t do this without you.”
On its face, this approach made sense to me. You can’t take your backers for … [Read more...]

By Josh Gold
Ready to get started with video?
More nonprofits are producing films to support their causes than ever before. Maybe you’re thinking of making one yourself, to give your public face a little extra zing or polish.
As filmmakers, we certainly appreciate the enthusiasm. But while we believe that video is a great investment, we often find that its most important features are misunderstood or just plain unknown. People sense the appeal of a great video, but aren’t aware of its full implications and potential.
Mostly, they just don’t want to be left behind. They dive in with no real goal beyond keeping ahead of the trend, and end up losing out on the genuine value video has to offer.
The 3 tips we suggest here can get you started on thinking about video in a more productive … [Read more...]

By Josh Gold
More nonprofits are producing films to support their causes than ever before. Maybe you’re thinking of making one yourself, to update donors, target your fundraising efforts to new audiences or give your public face a little extra zing or polish.
Over the years, we’ve seen companies execute film-based marketing strategies with great success. Unfortunately, we’ve also seen which mistakes most commonly keep a great concept from achieving its potential. There are a lot of traps you can easily fall into if you’re not keeping your eyes open.
Here are some common snags to watch out for:
1. Forgetting the “big picture”
Video production is a long process with many moving pieces. When you’re caught up in the day-to-day problems, you may find yourself getting carried away by an … [Read more...]

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